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1135490

	registered interest
	date	28/06/2019
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Social Security Benefits
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 27 June 2019 to Question 268402, if she will place in the Library a copy of the dataset from which the median balance per debtor was calculated.
	tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
	tabling member printed	Frank Field
	uin	270706
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/09/2019 answer text <p>A copy of the relevant dataset* will be placed in the Library.</p><p> </p><p>In order to comply with the General Data Protection Regulations 2018, the dataset contains values only.</p><p> </p><p>The data set shows all balances held on our systems for the relevant period. It includes ‘minus’ figures, which reflect changes made as a result of successful appeals.</p><p> </p><p>The data does not include any Universal Credit overpayments. It includes debts accrued in a number of ways including Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit overpayments built up under HMRC as well as fraud and error overpayments.</p><p> </p><p>Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit were introduced in 2003, with some people then accruing debts over many years.</p><p> </p><p>We do not want people to face undue financial hardship as a result of repaying overpayments. If people do struggle, adjustments can be made and will be based on an individual’s circumstance.</p><p> </p><p>The overall maximum amount that can be deducted from a claimant’s Universal Credit each month to recover a benefit overpayment is an amount equal to 40% of their Universal Credit standard allowance.</p><p> </p><p>The vast majority of benefit payments are made correctly; this stock of debts equates to around 0.6% of current annual welfare expenditure. The legacy welfare system is complex in its structure and administration and in the way that qualifying conditions interact with each other. UC provides a single system of means-tested support for working-age households who are in or out of work and we expect this to reduce overpayments.</p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><em>*The data provided has been sourced from internal management information and was not intended for public release. It should therefore not be compared to any other, similar data subsequently released by the Department.</em></p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 03/09/2019 16:11:32 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

1140594

	registered interest
	date	19/07/2019
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit: Telephone Services
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the (a) average and (b) longest response time was to answer universal credit freephone numbers; and how many complaints about telephone response times for those numbers have been made in the last six months for which figures are available.
	tabling member constituency	Newport East
	tabling member printed	Jessica Morden
	uin	279395
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/09/2019 answer text <p>Universal Credit is a 24 hour, seven days a week, digital service that allows claimants to manage their own data and account online at a time which is convenient for them. Via their account, claimants can check their Universal Credit benefit payments, notify us of changes and record notes via an online journal facility. In addition, established claimants who call the Freephone Universal Credit helpline are connected directly to the person or team who are dealing with the case.</p><p> </p><p>For June 2019 the average speed of answer for a call to the Universal Credit helpline was 2 minutes 39 seconds. The longest response time was 55 minutes 33 seconds. In June we answered 1.2 million calls. The longest response time refers to a single caller and is not reflective of the experience of the majority of our customers.</p><p> </p><p>The average speed of answer measure is the average customer wait time from the point of entering a queue to connection to an agent. This excludes any time spent in pre-queue messaging and any wait time for calls ultimately abandoned by callers prior to answer.</p><p> </p><p>The information requested about telephony complaints is not available in the format requested and doing so could only be provided at disproportionate cost. We do not capture data specifically on complaints about response times for answering the Universal Credit helpline.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 03/09/2019 16:18:26 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	1548 label Biography information for Jessica Morden

1140598

	registered interest
	date	19/07/2019
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when she plans to start the universal credit managed migration pilot.
	tabling member constituency	Newport East
	tabling member printed	Jessica Morden
	uin	279396
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/09/2019 answer text <p>The Department commenced the Move to Universal Credit pilot in the area served by Harrogate Jobcentre on 24 July 2019. Following the pilot, we will report back to Parliament on our progress and findings, and at that point, will determine the process for bringing forward further legislation to move claimants beyond the pilot phase.</p><p> </p><p>The regulations also allowed for people potentially eligible for Severe Disability Premium transitional awards to start receiving payments. Statistics published on 2 September 2019 show over 6,300 claims worth over £16 million have been paid.</p><p> </p><p>The Secretary of State delivered an Oral Statement to the House on 22 July 2019 to announce the commencement of the Universal Credit managed migration pilot (also known as the Move to Universal Credit pilot), which can be viewed here - <a href="https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2019-07-22/debates/8111667B-E194-41D6-9496-FE1E870225E6/UniversalCreditManagedMigration" target="_blank">https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2019-07-22/debates/8111667B-E194-41D6-9496-FE1E870225E6/UniversalCreditManagedMigration</a></p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 03/09/2019 15:41:34 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	1548 label Biography information for Jessica Morden

1141268

	registered interest
	date	23/07/2019
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Social Security Benefits
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of reports that people who are paid on the last day of the month are incorrectly showing on the HMRC database as having been paid on the first working day of the month on the ability of her Department to correctly assess an individual’s entitlement to benefits; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Portsmouth South
	tabling member printed	Stephen Morgan
	uin	281024
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/09/2019 answer text <p>Universal Credit takes earnings into account in a way that is fair and transparent. The amount of Universal Credit paid reflects, as closely as possible, the actual circumstances of a household during each monthly assessment period, including any earnings reported by the employer during the assessment period, regardless of when they were paid, or which month they relate to.</p><p>Assessment periods allow for Universal Credit awards to be adjusted on a monthly basis, ensuring that if claimants’ incomes fall, they do not have to wait several months for a rise in their Universal Credit award.</p><p>Claimants can discuss queries about how fluctuating income effects Universal Credit with their case managers and work coaches, who can also signpost to services appropriate to individual circumstances.</p><p>The Department has been working closely with HMRC since Universal Credit went live to support and inform employers who report earnings to emphasise the importance of timely reporting via the Real Time Information (RTI) system.</p><p>HMRC have updated their guidance to reiterate to employers the importance of reporting accurate dates and the impact on payment cycles; the Financial Secretary to the Treasury is also working closely with HMRC and employers to do this.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 03/09/2019 14:24:24 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4653 label Biography information for Stephen Morgan

1141279

	registered interest
	date	23/07/2019
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the proportion of universal credit claimants that have had a deduction as a result of arrears to their (a) first, (b) second, (c) third, (d) fourth, (e) fifth and (f) sixth universal credit payment in the most recent period for which data is available.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
	tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
	uin	280971
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/09/2019 answer text <p>The maximum rate of deductions cannot normally exceed 40 per cent of the Universal Credit standard allowance and does not reduce other components of an award, such as money paid for children, housing or when someone is caring for a severely disabled person. From October 2019 this will be reduced to 30 per cent and from October 2021 we are increasing the maximum recovery period for advances from 12 to 16 months.</p><p> </p><p>However, the Government recognises the importance of safeguarding the welfare of claimants who have incurred debt, so last resort deductions can be applied to protect vulnerable claimants from eviction and/or having their fuel supply (gas/electricity) cut off, by providing a last resort repayment method for arrears of these essential services. In these cases, when it is considered to be in the best interests of the claimant and their family, deductions may be taken above the 40 per cent limit.</p><p> </p><p>If a claimant is in financial difficulty as a result of the level of deductions being made they can contact the Department to request that a reduction in deductions be considered</p><p> </p><p>The table below gives the proportion of claims in the first to sixth assessment periods, for which a deduction was taken relating to arrears in February 2019, the latest month which data is available for.  <strong>  </strong></p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Assessment Period</p></td><td><p>% with arrears deductions</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>1</p></td><td><p>1.7%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2</p></td><td><p>3.1%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>3</p></td><td><p>4.3%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>4</p></td><td><p>5.1%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>5</p></td><td><p>6.1%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>6</p></td><td><p>6.7%</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p><strong>Notes</strong></p><p>1. Figures relate to Universal Credit full service.</p><p>2. Figures are rounded to the nearest per cent.</p><p>3. Figures included arrears for gas, electric, water, rent and service charges</p><p>4. We would expect to see overall amount increasing as the caseload and number of claims with deductions increase, but the average over that time also decreases.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 03/09/2019 15:52:39 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1141281

	registered interest
	date	23/07/2019
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit: Greater London
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 15 May 2019 to Question 224493, how much has been deducted from universal credit claimants' standard allowance in (a) the London Borough of Tower Hamlets and (b) Poplar and Limehouse constituency in each month since April 2017.
	tabling member constituency	Poplar and Limehouse
	tabling member printed	Jim Fitzpatrick
	uin	280902
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/09/2019 answer text <p>The attached table shows the amount deducted from Universal Credit claims in (a) the London Borough of Tower Hamlets and (b) the Poplar and Limehouse parliamentary constituency in each month since April 2017 to May 2019, which is the latest month that data is available for.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 03/09/2019 16:36:28 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince attachment 1 file name PQ280902 data.xlsx title 280902 data
	tabling member	197 label Biography information for Jim Fitzpatrick

1141694

	registered interest
	date	24/07/2019
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Local Housing Allowance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of lifting the freeze on local housing allowance to ensure that it covers at least the cheapest third of rents to improve housing security.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	281640
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/09/2019 answer text <p>There are no current plans to extend or maintain the Benefit Freeze after March 2020. Specific decisions on how to uprate the Local Housing Allowance from April 2020 will form part of the discussions in support of fiscal events later this year.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 03/09/2019 14:34:01 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1142104

	registered interest
	date	25/07/2019
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department has taken to implement the High Court judgment in R (Woods, Barrett and Stewart) v SSWP CO/1552/2018 case of 11 January 2019.
	tabling member constituency	Cardiff Central
	tabling member printed	Jo Stevens
	uin	282453
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/09/2019 answer text <p>I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 24 June 2019 to Question <a href="https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2019-06-18/266261/" target="_blank">266261</a>.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 03/09/2019 13:36:34 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4425 label Biography information for Jo Stevens

1141813

	registered interest
	date	24/07/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Treatment of, and Outcomes for, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Individuals in the Criminal Justice System Independent Review
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the Tackling Racial Disparity in the Criminal Justice System: October 2018 Update, how many FTE employees work within the dedicated team in his Department coordinating work on ethnic and racial disparity in the criminal justice system.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds East
	tabling member printed	Richard Burgon
	uin	281810
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/09/2019 answer text <p>Currently, there are five employees equating to 4.0 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) working within the Ministry of Justice team dedicated to coordinating work on ethnic and racial disparity in the criminal justice system (MoJ’s CJS Race Disparity Team).</p><p> </p><p>When first established in September 2017 the team had 1.5 FTE staff. This increased to 3.5 FTE by January 2018, coinciding with the establishment of the Race and Ethnicity Board (which oversees the implementation of the Lammy Review recommendations and work on tackling race disparity).</p><p> </p><p>The team does not have any dedicated budget (beyond for staffing costs), since work is resourced separately by the various business areas of Ministry of Justice and partner organisations responsible for actions to address racial disparities. Staff costs have been met within existing MOJ budgets.</p><p> </p><p>Beyond this team, it is the responsibility of all policy and operational areas to consider equalities in their work. There are other teams beyond the team asked about which have a focus on tackling racial disparity, including a dedicated youth justice disproportionality team and HM Prison and Probation Service’s equalities team.</p> answering member constituency Aldridge-Brownhills answering member printed Wendy Morton grouped question UIN 281811 281812 question first answered 03/09/2019 15:22:45 answering member 4358 label Biography information for Wendy Morton
	tabling member	4493 label Biography information for Richard Burgon

1141815

	registered interest
	date	24/07/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Treatment of, and Outcomes for, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Individuals in the Criminal Justice System Independent Review
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the Tackling Racial Disparity in the Criminal Justice System: October 2018 Update report, what the total spend has been on the dedicated team in his Department coordinating work on ethnic and racial disparity in the criminal justice system.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds East
	tabling member printed	Richard Burgon
	uin	281811
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/09/2019 answer text <p>Currently, there are five employees equating to 4.0 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) working within the Ministry of Justice team dedicated to coordinating work on ethnic and racial disparity in the criminal justice system (MoJ’s CJS Race Disparity Team).</p><p> </p><p>When first established in September 2017 the team had 1.5 FTE staff. This increased to 3.5 FTE by January 2018, coinciding with the establishment of the Race and Ethnicity Board (which oversees the implementation of the Lammy Review recommendations and work on tackling race disparity).</p><p> </p><p>The team does not have any dedicated budget (beyond for staffing costs), since work is resourced separately by the various business areas of Ministry of Justice and partner organisations responsible for actions to address racial disparities. Staff costs have been met within existing MOJ budgets.</p><p> </p><p>Beyond this team, it is the responsibility of all policy and operational areas to consider equalities in their work. There are other teams beyond the team asked about which have a focus on tackling racial disparity, including a dedicated youth justice disproportionality team and HM Prison and Probation Service’s equalities team.</p> answering member constituency Aldridge-Brownhills answering member printed Wendy Morton grouped question UIN 281810 281812 question first answered 03/09/2019 15:22:45 answering member 4358 label Biography information for Wendy Morton
	tabling member	4493 label Biography information for Richard Burgon